Railway tie plate



March 18, 194-1. H. L. RUSHING RAILWAY TIE PLATE Original Filed June 2, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 18,1941. H. L. RUSHING RAILWAY TIE PLATE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .1 W W! H M.

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Patented Mar. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Original application June 2, 1938, Serial No. 211,457. Divided and this application May 2, 1940, Serial No. 333,025

15 Claims.

One factor which has contributed, in relatively recent years, to greater longevity of wooden railway ties is their treatment with a preservative which has retarded rotting due to the action thereon of the weather elements and deterioration due to insects and the like, such as termites. There still remains the destruction incident to the mechanical mounting of the rail on the tie and the inevitable movement between the mounting parts and the wooden tie caused by the passage of trains over the track.

The commonly known tie plate has become the accepted means for mounting rails to ties, particularly wooden ties, because they are more practical andeconomical among the various devices and means previously suggested and demonstrated. These tie plates each comprise a flat metal plate, of requisite thickness or gauge, to lie upon a tie and under base flanges of a track rail which rests upon the tie plate, the plate being dimensioned to have an area greater than the area of the rail base flange resting thereupon in order to distribute the load passing on the rail over a larger area of the tie than would be distributed by the rail base flanges themselves. The top surfaces of the tie plate may have one, or two spaced, ribs for positioning the rail base flanges thereupon and may have spike holes therethrough, whereby the spikes extend to secure the tie plate and the rail base to the tie. Some tie plates have pointed cleats on their under surface to embed themselves into the wooden tie; but these cleats are coming into disuse because of their tearing effect on the wooden ties.

While such commonly used tie plates are considered the best mounting means for track rails on wooden ties, the life of a railway tie is seriously shortened by premature destruction due to the cutting or grinding action from the inevitable movement that passing trains impart to the tie plates of the construction universally employed. That movement results (1) in the direct cutting of the wood fibers by the tie-plate edges, particularly as the tie plate settles into or becomes embedded into the wooden tie, this movement being both longitudinally and transversely of the tie; said longitudinal movement is severe and tends to dislodge the universally employed drive spikes, which hold the rail base and tie plate to the tie, for such spikes are, first, inevitably lifted upwardly from within the tie, by the wave-like motion of the rail, imparted by passing trains, and are thus easily susceptible to dislodgement by side thrusts from the tie plate and rail base. These difliculties necessitate premature re-driving of said spikes, thus further cutting or spikekilling of the tie, and (2) in a grinding or abrad'ing action because of the presence between the tie plates and the tie surfaces, of water and gritty material, such as sand (present from sanding rails for traction) which readily find their way between plates and ties and which convert the sliding plates into a sort of grinding mechanism. Because of the damage thus done, tie replacement is required years before replacement would be necessary if that destructive action could be averted. (It is estimated that treated wooden ties should have a life of between thirtyfive and forty years, whereas on a well maintained right-of-way wooden ties are replaced between ten and fourteen years.)

The main object of the present invention is to provide a remedy for this condition by a tie plate so constructed or formed as to obviate cutting and grinding action; but my invention will be found to have other characteristics and advantages which provide improvements in road-bed construction in regard ,to the mounting or supporting of the rails, all as hereinafter fully set forth.

For the achievement of the objects and advantages of my invention, such invention consists in Whatever is described by or is included within the terms or scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tie plate embodying one form of my invention in its broader aspect;

Figure 2 is a perspective View of another embodiment of my invention;

Figure 3 is a cross-section on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section on line 44 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective of a modification of the tie-plate brace.

In that which I regard, at this time, as a most satisfactory embodiment of my invention to achieve the objects in view, I provide for the pair of rails on a wooden tie, a metal bearing or tie plate H] for each rail. The tie :plate has a horizontal, flat or substantially flat under-surface Hla, and preferably reaches substantially across the tie H from side to side and rests thereon. The length of the tie plate, or that dimension of it which extends longitudinally of the tie, is considerably greater than the width of the rail base f with which the tie plate is used so as toprovide a rail bearing area or chair portion 0 having oplwsi-tely projecting weight distributing portions w of considerable length (varying between 2%; inches to 4 /2 inches) according to the weight of the track rail used therewith and which are continuating extensions of the chair portion 0 as is usual in standard tie plates. The length and thickness of these portions 0 and w and the upper surfaces thereof are designed in accordance with usual railroad practices :to obtain tie-plate balance for the weight of track rail to be used therewith.

It is a feature of my invention to avoid any sharp or cutting edges or surfaces on my tie plates, which under the sliding movement, that is bound to occur, in the plane of the plate even to a slight extent, the biting of such edges or surfaces cut or lacerate the wood fibers, par-ticularly as the tie plate settles down into the wooden tie as shown in dotted lines of Figure 1; and it is also a feature of my invention to give such edges and surfaces of the tie plate a formation or configuration as will prevent access of water and grit, such as sand or cinders, to the tie surfaces covered by the plate members, and thus prevent the presence of those things that would, under the plate movement, grind or abrade or wear off the tie substance.

To eliminate such cut-ting edges or surfaces each end of the weight distributing portions w of the top member ID is curled or curved outward and upward on a relatively wide arc terminating in an upstanding transverse lip 14. While the degree of this are or curvature may vary within practical limits to obtain the objects of this invention, I find that to bend, roll or form the end portions of the tie plate to a 90 arc to provide an outer convexed surface MI on a /2 inch radius and an inner concaved surface Mia on a inch radius will give very satisfactory results, the distance from the bottom of the plate In to the end :of the arcuate portion being about a half inch and the height of the upstanding lip l4 being about an additional half inch or more, making a total of approximately one inch from the bottom surface of the tie plate. Thus, there is presented to the tie only a rounded non-cutting surface Ml at the juncture of the horizontal tie plate with the upstanding lip M which, because of the rounded surface l ll, will not cut or shear or skive the universally employed wooden tie I! when the tie plate is caused to side-slip by loads passing over the rail track R; and as the tie plate settles down into the tie, as shown in Figure 1, by the resiliency of the tie giving away to the pressure of the loads passing thereon, the relatively wide upstanding lips 14, with arcs [4| will provide abutment surfaces of considerable area to engage adjacent shoulders I41) formed on the tie by said settling of the tie plate and thereby prevent or retard the so-called side-slip of the plate and together with the rounded surface l4! will prevent destruction of the tie by cutting, splitting or skiving of the tie surfaces.

Spaced rail-base retaining shoulders 23 may be formed on the upper side of the tie plate Hi to receive between them the rail base and position it thereon. These shoulders may be continuous ribs, interrupted only by spike holes i I. In some instances only one shoulder may be employed on the outside of the rail-base, but all of the spike holes, as shown, will be employed.

It is suggested that the thickness of the plate members be about {'a of an inch thick at its center or that portion 0 which bears the rail and the remainder portions 10 thereof, thinning down to about of an inch thick next to the plate ends. This may be accomplished by rolling operation and the provision of the upstanding lips l4 reinforce the end portions of the tie plate so as to permit them to be of less thickness than that of the chair portion 0 between the ribs 23 which normally underlies the base of the rail. Thus no additional metal will be required to form the lips l4.

As shown in Figures 1 and 5, in some situations I provide means to cooperate with the lips M to positively resist the shifting movement of the tie plate longitudinally of the tie. This means is in the form of brace or buck plates 30 or 30a (see Figures 1 and 5). In the drawings I have shown a brace plate only at one outside end of the tie plate, with respect to the end of the tie because the tie plate has a greater tendency to move outwardly rather than inwardly of the tie. However, where it is desirable or necessary, these brace plates may be used at both ends of the tie plate. With reference to Figure 1, the brace plate consists of a substantially flat plate member 30 having on its underside thrust-resisting ribs or cleats 300 positioned to extend transversely of the wooden tie and is provided on one edge with an upstanding vertical flange M0, to engage and abut the outer face of a lip M on the tie plate I0. The flange I40 is preferably co-extensive with the lip [4 so as to give a wide bearing surface to resist the longitudinal shifting or side-slip ,thereagainst of the tie plate H]. The brace plate 30 is provided with suitable spaced spike openings 20, through which the usual spikes l8 extend and are driven directly into the tie ll. As shown, there are preferably two of these openings or holes 20, each positioned adjacent one end respectively of the brace plate 30 to firmly anchor the latter to resist said shifting movement of the tie plate thereagainst. Also, as shown, in order to avoid throat cutting of the spikes and to provide additional bearing surface for the shanks of the spikes, each of the spike openings 20 extends through a raised curb or rib on the brace plate 30.

In those instances where a brace plate is required on the gauge side end of the tie plate, the brace plate 30a shown in Figure 5 may be employed and which is of slightly modified form to that shown in Figure 1. The brace plate 30a is the same in all respects to the brace plate 30 except that the upstanding flange portion I40a is turned downwardly upon itself to provide a hook portion 3! to catch over the lip Id of the tie plate Ill. Particularly on mountainous or other steeply graded sections where large quantities of traction sand is employed, the use of the brace plate 300. may be preferred over the base plate 39 because the hook portion 3! acts as a roof over the adjoining surfaces of the lip I4 and flange it!) or Mild to prevent grit and water passing between these parts to opposing surfaces of the tie plate and tie. Also the space in the hook portion may be closed at its end for the purpose of excluding grit and water.

As will be manifest, the brace plates 30 or 30a are securely fastened by spikes l8 to the tie and these spikes are not dislodged, by the wave-like movement of the rail R and the movements and vibrations of the tie plate l0 under trafllc, as are the spikes holding the base rail F and tie plate to the tie. Thus, the brace plates provide a definite abutment against which the tie plate will engage and prevent spreading of the rails, which occurs in that direction and causes undue wear and cutting of the tics, by the side slip of the tie plates upon the ties. It will also be clear that the brace plates will be effective, even though the tie plate settles into the Surface of the tie, as the lip I4 is provided with such height as will compensate for this settling. Ordinarily, tie plates will settle one-half inch more or less and often for a distance of an inch or inch and a half in extreme cases on main rail lines of heavy traffic. Moreover, due to the placing of the openings 20in the end portions of the brace plate as shown, the spikes l8, inse-rtable therethrough and driven into the tie, will resist central longitudinal splitting of the tie, which usually occurs in the area between the points where the spikes are driven. Even when this splitting occurs prior to laying the tie in the track-way the spikes in the brace plate will prevent or retard further splitting or the widening thereof.

My tie plate as shown and described in connection with Figures 1 and 5 may be modified,

as shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, by the addition thereto or provision of two depending side members or flanges l2, which, respectively, extend downward over and in close contact with the two tie sides so that they exert a clamping or squeezing effect on the more or less elastic tie body of the tie H, all three parts H) and i2 being integral. That this clamping or squeezing action may be efficiently promoted, the surfaces of the flanges l2 next the tie sides are inclined inward from the bottom edge to the top plate l0 and the tie sides are correspondingly inclined, being adzed off to provide downwardly and outwardly diverging bearing surfaces 13. The clamping or compacting of the tie plate prevents any cracking or splitting to which ties are otherwise subject from weather conditions and Weight of trains and thus further promotes their longevity. It will be seen that a vigorous wedging' action will be pro duced by the tie plate, under the heavy pressure exerted by passing trains; and though the tie plate under each rail will move downwardly slowly and gradually as time passes, the wedg ing action and close fit of plate will be exerted throughout the life of the tie; and though some slight horizontal movement of the top member over the the top surface will occur, it will be less than if the side clamping flanges were absent. The outer faces of the flanges are vertical and lie substantially in the vertical planes of the sides of the tie to avoid any projections that would interfere with road building or maintenance, such as ballasting.

Each end edge of the flanges I2 is laterally and outwardly turned at I50 on a relatively wide are to provide a lip l5 which is an integral continuation of the lip 14 and extends at about with respect to its flanges l2 and correspond with the rounded edges MI and lips l4; and at the bottom edge of each flange I2 is an outwardly curved bead I6 cojoined with lip 15 so that all edge portions of the tie plate exposed to the wooden tie present noincuttlng rounded surfaces to the wood. These side flanges 12, with their lips l5 and beads Hz, in conjunction with the lips l4 direct sand, grit and water over the top of the tie plate to shed down the side flan es H where it is discharged over the bead l6, thereby preventing such sand, grit, and water passing under the tie plate Ii]. There is also a tendency of sand, dirt, cinders, brine, etc., to accumulate on the top of the plate at the juncture of the lips I l with the tie plate, which accumulation tends to accelerate the corrosion of the metal. I prefer, therefore, for the surface MIG to be at least approximately a 90 are on not less than a one-quarter inch radius so as to avoid any deep or abrupt corners in which this material may lodge and be retained; and I have found by so providing this surface, said sand, dirt, etc, will shift out of the corners and off of the plate through ordinary vibration encountered in track usage, blown on by the wind or washed off by rain water.

The spike openings I1 may be provided with curbs l9 on a level with a portion of the tie plate between the rail positioning ribs 23 to avoid pockets which will hold sand, grit and water.

It is, of course, understood that the brace plates 3|] and 300,- may be used with the embodiment of my tie plate as shown in Figures 2 to 4 in the same manner shown and described in connection with Figures 1 and 5. It will, also, be seen that the tie plate as shown in Figures 1 and 5 is in reality a portion or section of a channel beam or structural shape and, with respect to the form shown in Figures 2 to 4, a double channel beam with the channels extending at right angles with respect to each other, one channel being deeper than the other for the purposes of straddling a cross tie transversely; that the tie plate, in Figures 1 and '5, is reinforced by the end lips I4 and because of this reinforcement the portions adjacent the lips 14 may be of thinner material than usual and the material thus saved, due to this, thinner construction, may be utilized in providing the lips l4 without additional cost except for a small fractional increase in the forming operation; and that the type of tie plate, shown in Figures 2 to 4, additionally reinforced by the flanges 12 and their cojoined lips I5 and I6, and with lip l5 cojoining lip l4 gives increased stiffness and rigidity and ability to resist bending stresses under load although the portions between ribs 23 and lips I4, and the side flanges I2, may be relatively thin which makes for economy in the plate cost.

From the foregoing it is manifest that by the present invention I provide a tie plate having many advantageous structural features and which in use provides a practical remedy, within a cost now allowed by railroads, that will prevent or, at least reduce to a minimum over present conditions the cutting and laceration of railway cross ties that is now, over all else, responsible for their premature destruction, which latter adds large financial burdens upon the railroads and an unnecessary drain upon our rapidly di- 'minishing timber reserves.

This application is a division of my copending allowed application Serial No. 211,457, filed June 2, 1938.

What I claim is':

1. A standard metal tie plate to be interposed between a wooden rail tie and a track rail; the said tie plate having, in combination, asubstantially horizontal tie-top engaging member upon 6 which the rail rests and having'its opposite ends extending upwardly, spike holes in said top mem her, and a metal brace plate securab-le to the tie at least at one end of the top member and having one edge portion thereof substantially coextensive with the adjacent end of the top member for abutting the same, thereby permitting substantially vertical relative movement between the top member and brace plate, but resisting horizontal movement in a direction toward the brace plate.

2. A tie plate as set forth in claim 3 further characterized by said brace plate having ribs on the undersurface thereof which contact with the tie and extend substantially transversely of the tie.

3. A metal tie plate to be interposed between a wooden rail-tie and a track-rail, the tie plate having a substantially horizontal tie-top engaging member, upon which the rail rests, having ends extending from the rail bearing portion thereof and having spike holes therein adjacent the rail bearing portion, and a brace plate having spike holes therein and securable to the railtie at least adjacent one end of the top member with their adjacent portions abutting; said abutting portions of said top member and brace plate having upwardly extending lip-flanges forming relatively wide abutting faces.

4. A tie plate for wooden ties having a horizontal plate-like tie-top contacting member with opposite end portions extending upwardly, and a brace plate securable to the tie at an end of the tie plate and abutting the same, the end of said brace plate abutting the tie plat-e having a hook end straddling an adjacent upstanding end of said tie plate.

5. In a tie plate as set forth in claim 4 wherein the hook end of the brace plate is coextensive with said upstanding end of said tie plate to ex clude water and sand passing between the abutting surfaces.

6. In a railway tie plate to be interposed be tween a rail tie and a rail, the tie plate including a substantially fiat tie engaging plate member having an intermediate rail receiving portion with abutment means for locating the rail base and end portions extending laterally of the rail base receiving portion, upturned projecting lips at the outer ends of said end portions and which extend substantially transversely of the tie, each outer surface at the juncture of said lips and tie plate and contiguous to the tie being on a convexed arc, said arcs being non-cutting means against the tie, and said lips functioning as buffer means against longitudinal movement of the tie plate with respect to the tie as the tie plate wears down into the tie and preventing cutting or skiving of the tie by the ends of the tie plate.

7. In a railway tie plate to be interposed between a rail tie and a rail, the tie plate having a fiat tie engaging portion and upturned laterally projecting lips at its ends which extend substantially transversely of the tie, each outer surface at the juncture of said lips and tie plate and contiguous to the tie being on a convexed arc, said arcs being non-cutting means against the tie, and said lips functioning as buifer means against longitudinal movement of the tie plate with respect to the tie as the tie plate wears down into the tie and preventing cutting or skiving of the tie by the ends of the tie plate, a brace plate for the said tie plate to be arranged on the tie at least at an end of the tie plate in abutting relation with the same, means in said brace plate for receiving spikes or the like, the edge of said brace plate abutting the tie plate having a hook and extending around and engaging the lip on said topportion, said hook member being coextensive with said lip on the fiat top portion of the tie plate.

8. In a railway tie plate to be interposed between a rail tie and a rail, the tie plate including a flat top member having an intermediate rail receiving portion with abutment means for locating the rail base and end portions extending laterally of the rail receiving portion and downwardly extending side flange portions to engage the sides of the tie, the extremities of said end portions and the ends of the flanges thereof being outturned laterally therefrom to provide continuous lateral lips at the ends of the tie plate to divert water and sand from the end edges of said plate and cause it to flow down the sides of said flanges and said ties, each outer surface at the juncture of said lips with the top portion and saidflanges of the tie plate and contiguous to the tie being on a convexed arc, whereby said arcs function as non-cutting means against the tie and said lateral lips function as buffer means against longitudinal movement of the tie plate with respect to the tie as the tie plate wears down into the tie, thereby reducing cutting or splitting of the tie by the end edges of the top member and side flanges of the tie plate due to said longitudinal movement and strengthening the top member and side flanges of the tie plate.

9. In a railway tie plate to be interposed between a rail-tie and a rail, the tie plate including a flat tie engaging top member having an intermediate rail base receiving chair portion and end portions extending laterally of the rail base receiving portion, the outer ends of said end portions being upturned on an arc and terminating in upstanding lips which extend substantially transversely of the tie, said lips and arcuate surfaces functioning to reduce cutting, skiving or shredding of the tie by the ends of the tie plate and as buffer means against longitudinal movement of the tie plate with respect to the tie as the tie plate wears down into the tie.

10. A metal tie plate to be interposed between a rail-tie and a track-rail comprising a channel shaped member to rest upon the upper portion of a tie with its channeled side facing upwardly and between the side walls of which the trackrail may be positioned, rail base retaining shoulder means spaced inwardly from said side walls, spike holes extending through the bottom of the channel to receive spikes for retaining the track rail on the rail bearing area thereof, said rail bearing area being remotely spaced. from the side walls of the channel.

11. A metal tie plate to be interposed between a rail-tie and a track rail comprising a member channel-shaped on opposite faces thereof, the channel on one face being dimensioned to embrace the top and side portions of the rail-tie, and the channel on its other face extending at substantially right angles to the other channel to receive therein the track-rail longitudinally thereof; rail base retaining shoulder means spaced inwardly from the side walls of the track rail receiving channel and spike holes extending through the bottom of the track-rail channel to receive spikes for fastening the track rail resting on a rail bearing area of said track rail channel, said track rail bearing area being remotely spaced from the side walls of the track-rail receiving channel.

12. In combination, a metal tie plate to be interposed between a rail-tie and a track rail, the tie plate having a substantially horizontal tie-top engaging member and end portions extending from the rail bearing area thereof, and

a brace or buck plate securable to the rail-tie beyond and adjacent at least one end of the top member with the adjacent surfaces of the brace plate and top member abutting, thereby permitting substantially vertical relative movement between the top member and the brace plate but resisting horizontal movement of the tie plate in a direction toward the brace plate.

13. In combination, a metal tie plate to be interposed between a rail-tie and a track rail, the tie plate having a substantially horizontal tietop engaging member and end portions extending from the rail bearing area thereof, and a brace or buck plate securable to the rail-tie beyond and adjacent at least one end of the top member with the adjacent surfaces of the brace plate and top member abutting, thereby permitting substantially vertical relative movement between the top member and the brace plate but resisting horizontal movement of the tie plate in a direction toward the brace plate, said brace plate having spaced spike holes therein, at least two of which are positioned to lie one each on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the rail-tie.

14. In combination, a metal tie plate to be interposed between a rail-tie and a track rail, the tie plate having a substantially horizontal tie-top engaging member having ends extending from the rail bearing area thereof, and a brace or buck plate securable to the rail-tie at least adjacent one end of the top member with the adjacent surfaces of the brace plate and. top member abutting, said abutting end of the top member having an upwardly extending lip engageable with the opposing surface of the brace plate even after the tie plate has settled for a distance into the tie, thereby permitting substantially vertical relative movement between the top member and the brace plate but resisting horizontal movement of the tie plate in a direction toward the brace plate.

15. In combination, a metal tie plate to be interposed between a rail-tie and a track rail, the tie plate having a substantially horizontal tie-top engaging member having ends extending from the rail bearing area thereof, and a brace or buck plate securable to the rail-tie at least adjacent one end of the top member with the adjacent surfaces of the brace plate and top member abutting, said abutting end of the top member having an upwardly extending lip engageable with the opposing surface of the brace plate even after the tie plate has settled for a distance into the tie, thereby permitting substantially vertical relative movement between the top member and the brace plate but resisting horizontal movement of the tie plate in a direction toward the brace plate, said brace plate having spaced spike holes therein extending through raised portions of the brace plate, and. at least two of said holes being positioned to lie one each on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the rail-tie.

HERSCHEL LEE BUSHING. 

